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    Home » Entrées/Main Dishes » 4 Ingredient Honey Lime Chili Chicken Thighs

    4 Ingredient Honey Lime Chili Chicken Thighs

    Published: Oct 31, 2016 · Modified: Oct 21, 2019 by Elaine · This post may contain Amazon affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This blog generates income via ads · 20 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Image and text overlay Honey Chili Lime Chicken Thighs
    Pinterest pin for Honey Lime Chili Chicken Thighs
    Honey Chili Lime Chicken thighs pin

    This recipe for Baked Honey Lime Chili Chicken makes a super simple weeknight meal. These thighs are succulently sweet and spicy. You'll only need 4 main ingredients and one pan. This dish gets requested over and over again!

    Honey Lime Chili Chicken Thighs on rice with lime slices.

    This recipe for Honey Lime Chili Chicken Thighs needs only four main ingredients and one pan. Minimal prep, minimal clean-up, tasty food . . . that's my kind of meal.

    If you've been following along here for a while, you'll know that lots of flavour plus minimal effort is my favourite combo.

    And this honey-lime chicken recipe fits the bill. Chicken with lime, garlic, honey and a little chili powder makes a tasty dish, perfect for an easy weeknight meal.

    One reader says, I've made this several times. It does not fail to please. It's my "go to" recipe for quick, mouth-bursting flavorful chicken. Thank you!

    Annette

    ❤️Why you'll love these Honey Chili Lime Chicken thighs

    • only four main ingredients
    • one pan
    • quick to prepare
    • easy clean-up
    • everyone likes it!
    Honey Lime Chili Chicken Thighs in a white dish with slices of lime

    This recipe for Honey Lime Chili Chicken results in tender, juicy chicken that's a little sweet, a little sour, with a little heat from the chili powder. It has just the right amount of garlic-lime flavour to keep it interesting without being overpowering.

    🛒 Ingredients

    • bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or breasts
    • oil
    • lime juice (from 1 or 2 limes)
    • garlic, minced
    • chili powder
    • honey
    Whisking ingredients for honey lime chili chicken thighs in a glass measuring cup.
    Simple ingredients for a flavourful marinade!

    🔪 Instructions

    Too easy! Just whisk the honey-lime mixture together, brown the chicken in an oven-proof skillet, add the sauce to the pan and finish baking it in the oven. That's it.

    1. Heat oven to 375°F.
    2. Whisk the lime juice, garlic, chili powder, and honey together and set aside.
    3. Pat chicken dry to prevent spattering when you add it to the pan.
    4. Heat an ovenproof skillet on the stovetop, then add oil. When it shimmers and ripples, carefully add the chicken, skin side down. Shake the pan a little to prevent sticking. Brown on one side until it turns a deep, dark golden colour (about 4-5 minutes), then flip and brown on the other side.
    5. Remove from the heat, drain the excess oil, and pour the honey-lime-chili mixture over all.
    6. Place the skillet in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 175°F.
    7. Serve garnished with extra lime slices.

    Just whisk the honey-lime mixture, brown the chicken in an oven-proof skillet, add the sauce to the pan and finish baking it in the oven.

    That's it!

    ❓How do I sear chicken without it sticking to the pan?

    • Heat an ovenproof skillet. Don't add the oil yet.
    • When it's hot, add a little oil, one with a high heat tolerance. Wait until the oil ripples. It will heat quickly.
    • Pat the chicken dry. Carefully add the chicken, skin side down.
    • Leave it alone. Don't go moving it around the pan or it will stick. Let it fully brown on one side, usually for four or five minutes, then flip it over using tongs, being careful not to rip the skin.
    • Brown on the other side, then follow the rest of your recipe instructions.
    Honey Lime Chicken Thighs on a platter with lime slices.

    👍🏼 Expert Tip: using boneless skinless chicken

    If you want to use boneless, skinless chicken parts, you'll need to adapt this recipe to keep the chicken moist (which is what the skin helps to do).

    Mix the honey-chili-lime sauce and toss the chicken parts in it. Transfer them to a baking dish and bake it in the oven at 375°F for 20 - 30 minutes or until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of at least 165°F. Then remove the dish from the oven, tent it with foil and let it rest for 10 minutes.

    🍽 Serving Suggestions

    Serve these honey lime chicken thighs over pasta, or with rice or low-carb Cauliflower Rice, green vegetables like Easy 5-minute Sesame Asparagus. Add a refreshing salad like this Mexican-inspired Mexican Corn Salad with Queso Fresco or this Cantaloupe Arugula Salad.

    Love that Honey-Chili-Lime flavour? Try these:

    • 5-Ingredient Chili Lime Drumsticks
    • Easy Honey Chili Lime Glazed Salmon
    • Chili Lime Shrimp with Fresh Salsa
    • Mango Avocado Chili Lime Salad

    You'll find many more delicious chicken recipes in the Chicken Category in my Recipe Index.

    🍽 More easy chicken recipes

    • Easy Thai Baked Chicken
    • Sheet Pan Chicken and Roasted Harvest Vegetables
    • Easy Baked Lemon Chicken
    • Instant Pot or Slow Cooker Thai Mango Chicken

    When you make these honey lime chili chicken thighs, please leave a comment and a rating below. I love hearing how my recipes turned out for you, or what adaptations you made. Thanks in advance!

    This recipe for 4-Ingredient Honey Lime Chili Chicken Thighs makes an easy weeknight meal. Just combine lime, garlic, chili powder and honey to make this sweet, spicy and succulent glaze! Great when served with Pineapple Jicama Salad! |www.flavourandsavour.com

    4 Ingredient Honey Lime Chili Chicken Thighs

    This recipe for 4-Ingredient Honey Lime Chili Chicken Thighs makes an easy weeknight meal. It's sweet, spicy and succulent!
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Entrée/Main
    Cuisine: Mexican, North American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 8 - 9 thighs
    Calories: 354kcal
    Author: Elaine
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    oven-proof skillet

    Ingredients

    • 8-9 chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on
    • 1 - 2 tablespoon oil
    • ¼ cup lime juice (from 1 or 2 limes)
    • 2 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 tablespoon chili powder
    • 1 - 2 tablespoon honey

    Instructions

    • Heat oven to 375°F.
    • Whisk the lime juice, garlic, chili powder, and honey together and set aside.
    • Pat chicken dry.
    • Heat an ovenproof skillet on the stove top, add oil. When it ripples, carefully add the chicken, skin side down. Shake the pan a little to prevent sticking. Brown on one side until it turns a deep, dark golden colour (about 4-5 minutes), then flip and brown on the other side.
    • Remove from heat, drain excess oil, pour the honey-lime-chili mixture over all and place skillet in the oven.
    • Bake for 25-30 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 175°F.
    • Serve garnished with extra lime slices.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1thigh | Calories: 354kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 128mg | Potassium: 325mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 410IU | Vitamin C: 2.5mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1.1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @enessman or tag #flavourandsavour!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Denise

      October 20, 2019 at 9:17 pm

      5 stars
      So easy! My family loves this!

      Reply
    2. Shahn

      June 18, 2018 at 10:40 am

      Can you use skinless thighs?

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        June 18, 2018 at 9:31 pm

        Hi Shahn,
        Yes, boneless, skinless chicken thighs would work well with this recipe. However, to keep the chicken moist (which is what the skin helps to do) I would mix up the sauce, toss the chicken thighs in it, transfer them to a baking dish and bake it in the oven at 375°F for 20 - 30 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of at least 165°F. Then remove the dish from the oven, tent it with foil and let it rest for 10 minutes. Thanks for you question!

        Reply
    3. Kristina

      August 20, 2017 at 9:32 am

      Can I make with breasts? My husband HATES thighs or any dark meat.

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        August 20, 2017 at 2:09 pm

        Yes, Kristina, you sure can. I would use skin-on chicken breasts to keep the meat moist. (You don't have to eat the skin if you don't want to, but it helps to seal in the juices while it bakes.) Bake until meat is no longer pink and registers at least 165°F. with a meat thermometer. It's a glaze that is good on chicken wings and salmon, too!

        Reply
    4. Michelle

      June 20, 2017 at 4:34 am

      Can you use lemon juice instead of lime?

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        June 20, 2017 at 12:47 pm

        Hi Michelle,
        It will taste quite different with lemon, but it would probably be good! If you try it, I'd love to hear your results!

        Reply
    5. Mariah

      May 23, 2017 at 8:24 pm

      How long should I bake it for about 2-4 pieces? & the oven temp? Same amount?

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        May 23, 2017 at 9:27 pm

        Yes---same temperature, same time. Hope you love it!

        Reply
    6. Annette Lupico

      April 28, 2017 at 3:15 pm

      5 stars
      I've made this several times. It does not fail to please. It's my "go to" recipe for quick, mouth-bursting flavorful chicken. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        April 28, 2017 at 6:11 pm

        Thanks for letting me know, Annette! I'm so glad you like one of our favourites too. I appreciate your comments!

        Reply
    7. Ayngelina Brogan

      March 03, 2017 at 5:31 pm

      I love it when recipes only require a few ingredients and they are all in my fridge, you may have just helped me decide on dinner tonight.

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        March 03, 2017 at 6:49 pm

        Yes--easy is always best and this one has a ton of flavour!

        Reply
    8. Vicky Chin

      March 03, 2017 at 3:59 pm

      Wow, this is mouth-watering ! And one pot meal is perfect for me! And you have 38 more chicken recipes?! Thank you ! Have to check them out, you save me a lot of time trying to figure out what to cook !

      Reply
    9. Leslie-Anne

      March 03, 2017 at 10:06 am

      I love a quick chicken recipe - this one looks delicious and completely kid-friendly!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        March 03, 2017 at 10:26 am

        Hi Leslie-Anne, Definitely kid-friendly! You can make it as spicy or as mild as you like to suit your family's tastes.

        Reply
    10. Samantha @mykitchenlove

      March 03, 2017 at 8:37 am

      5 stars
      These chicken thighs are mouthwatering Elaine!! I love the big bold flavours and yet a simple recipe. Plus, you know one pot meals are my kind of jam. I've pinned this recipe too as I can make it soon!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        March 03, 2017 at 8:41 am

        Thanks Samantha! One-pot meals are the best!

        Reply
    11. kristy @ she eats

      March 03, 2017 at 8:26 am

      I'm always looking for new ways to prepare chicken, Elaine. I usually just toss a breast in a pan with salt and pepper, sear and stick in the oven. This looks much more interesting 🙂 I LOVE the lime and chili powder. Pinning for later!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        March 03, 2017 at 8:28 am

        Thanks Kristy! Chicken is such a versatile meat. I love experimenting with different ways to use it. This is a super easy recipe!

        Reply

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    Elaine from Flavour and Savour

    Welcome! I'm Elaine

    I create delicious gluten-free recipes that everyone can make. I’m here to show you that gluten-free eating doesn’t have to be complicated! I’ll help you make healthy meals that you’ll want to share with family and friends. About Me!

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